Kiwifruit variety named &#39;ZESY002&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct kiwifruit variety is disclosed. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from crossing the kiwifruit selections known as 13-12-16d.96 (not patented) and 30-01-10c.94 (not patented). The fruit of this new kiwifruit variety is characterized by large fruit size, high yield potential, ovoid shape, yellow flesh color, and early harvest maturity. The new kiwifruit variety has been named ‘ZESY002’.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims benefit of Provisional U.S. Application No.61/269,960, filed Jun. 30, 2009, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ZESY002’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a newand distinct variety of kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis cv. ‘ZESY002’, asherein described and illustrated. The new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’was selected from a population of seedlings derived from crossing twokiwifruit selections 51-18-15i.97 (maternal; not patented) and51-18-20j.97 (paternal; not patented) in the course of a plannedkiwifruit variety breeding program. The cross was made in November 2000by the Plant and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited(formerly Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New ZealandLimited) at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The new variety wasselected as 13-15-14g.02 and has been named ‘ZESY002’.

The new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ may be distinguished from presentlyavailable Actinidia cultivars by the following distinguishingcharacteristics:

The fruit of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ mature earlier thanthose of ‘Hort16A’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066).

‘ZESY002’ produce much larger fruit than those of ‘Hort16A’ and alsoproduce more flowers.

The fruit shape at the stylar end of the new variety ‘ZESY002’ is bluntwith a slight indentation compared with that of ‘Hort16A’, which extendsinto a characteristic ‘beak’.

The flesh of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ fruit is yellow incolor (similar to ‘Hort16A’) when ripe for consumption, compared with‘Hayward’, which is green in color.

‘ZESY002’ is tetraploid compared with ‘Hort16A’, which is diploid.

Asexual propagation of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ by graftingshows that the unique combination of characteristics of the variety cometrue to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagation. In order to obtain true-to-type clones of the initialplant, asexually propagated plants were obtained by grafting dormantbuds from the original seedling onto rootstocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens in full color of thefruit, flowers, and leaves of the new variety cv. ‘ZESY002’. The colorsas depicted are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruit of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ (onthe vine).

FIG. 2 shows typical one-year-old shoots (canes) of the new kiwifruitvariety ‘ZESY002’ (on the vine).

FIG. 3 shows typical fruit of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ (inthe studio).

FIG. 4 shows the fruit of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ inlongitudinal-section and cross-section (in the studio).

FIG. 5 shows the flowers of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ (on thevine).

FIG. 6 shows the flowers of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ (in thestudio).

FIG. 7 shows mature leaves of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ (onthe vine).

FIG. 8 shows mature leaves of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ fromabove (adaxial surface) (in the studio).

FIG. 9 shows mature leaves of the new kiwifruit variety ‘ZESY002’ frombelow (abaxial surface) (in the studio).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. Thespecimens described were grown at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.The observations were made on vines grafted onto existing A. deliciosaseedling rootstock, and managed under standard orchard practice. Randommeasurements of each characteristic were obtained from samples of 6plants.

Horticultural terminology is used in accordance with UPOV guidelines forkiwi. All dimensions are in millimeters, and all weights are in grams(unless otherwise stated). Certain characteristics of this variety, suchas growth and color, may change with changing environmental conditions(e.g., light, temperature, moisture), nutrient availability, rootstocks,or other factors. Color descriptions and other terminology are used inaccordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. Color names beginning with acapital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chartpublished by the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

-   Plant and foliage:

The plant is a female plant that is tetraploid and expresses a twininghabit of medium to strong vigor, producing many long thick one-year-oldcanes and large leaves.

Tomentose hairs are present on the young shoot at low density.Anthocyanin (red) coloration of the growing tip is absent or very weakon most shoots.

The mature one-year-old shoots of the plant are smooth and colored lightyellowish-brown (R.H.S.164B) on the upper side. There are a many largelenticels (1.75 mm average diameter), which are orange-brown in color(R.H.S. 165B), raised in appearance, and elliptical in shape. The sizeof the bud support is small and the leaf scar is moderate in size(similar to ‘Hort16A’). Mature one-year-old shoots are thick, averaging14.6 mm in diameter between bud 5 and 6.

The leaf of ‘ZESY002’ is cordate in shape with an emarginate shaped leaftip (FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9) and typically averages approximately 167 mmin length and 209 mm in width. The leaf bases are slightly touching. Thecolor of the leaf blade is moderate green (R.H.S. 139B) on the uppersurface and greenish-yellow (R.H.S.147B) on the lower surface. Leafpetioles are approximately 162 mm long and 6 mm thick on average andhave weak anthocyanin coloration on the upper side of the petiole(R.H.S. 60A or 181A). Petioles have a sparse covering of short, softhairs.

-   Inflorescence:

The number of flowers in each inflorescence is typically between one tothree flowers, with each inflorescence comprising a single king flowerthat produce the largest fruit and up to two side flowers (0.4 perinflorescence on average) that produce smaller fruit. Each fruitingone-year-old shoot, typically develops between one and nineinflorescences, with an average of 5.2.

Flower pedicels average approximately 38 mm in length at mid-bloom.

There are between five and nine petals on each flower, with an averageof 6.9. The petals are arranged overlapping and are white in color(R.H.S. 158B) when fully open, but with a light green base (R.H.S. 146C)(FIG. 6). Petals are involute in shape in cross-section and there is amixture of smooth and crimped petal shapes giving the appearance of anirregular or ‘untidy’ flower. Flowers also contain between ,six andseven sepals (6.9 on average) that are mainly green in color (R.H.S.143C), but with a distinct yellow-brown color (R.H.S. 164B) around theedges (FIG. 6). Each flower produces between 28 and 37 styles (32 onaverage) with a semi-erect attitude that are 6.1 mm long on average andwhite in color (R.H.S. 155D). A number of yellow anthers (R.H.S. 15A)are also present in each flower.

Ovaries of the king flower are covered in fine hairs that are white incolor (R.H.S. 155D). Anthocyanin (red) coloration of the ovaries incross-section is absent at mid-bloom. Ovaries of the king flower have amean length of 10.1 mm and are ovoid in shape.

-   Fruit:

‘ZESY002’ fruit are large in size, approximately 136 g in weight onaverage when thinned to a crop load of approximately 46 fruit per squaremeter of female canopy. The fruit dimensions average 73.4 mm in length,54.8 mm maximum width, and 51.1 mm minimum width. The general fruitshape in longitudinal section is ovoid, with the general shape of thestylar end being flat with a slight dent (FIG. 3, FIG. 4). Incross-section, fruit shape at the median part of the fruit variescircular to partially elliptic, with most fruit being at least partiallyelliptic in shape (FIG. 4).

Fruit stalks are of medium length, averaging 46 mm long and 3.6 mm indiameter and are brown in color (R.H.S. 199C and 200C).

Soft light brown (R.H.S. 165B) hairs are present on the mature fruit,but hairs are very short and occur at very low density. The skin offruit is yellow-green in color (R.H.S. 148B) when fruit have beenprotected from direct sun exposure, but the skin changes to dark brownin color (R.H.S. 200D) on exposed fruit. The skin is covered withnumerous lenticels that are light orange white in color (R.H.S. 164C)and are quite conspicuous. The combination of lenticels and underlyingskin colors give the fruit an overall appearance of a light brown color(199B) when viewed from a distance of 30 cm or more.

The outer pericarp is initially a light green color (R.H.S. 164C) duringearly fruit development. The outer pericarp then gradually changes to alight yellow color (R.H.S. 8D) over a six to eight week period as fruitmature during February and March, reaching a yellow flesh hue angle of103° by approximately April 1 in the Te Puke region of New Zealand. Aring of slightly greener colored tissue (R.H.S. 143C or 143D)immediately under the skin can persist in some fruit, particularly ifthey have been exposed to direct sunlight during development. The innerpericarp is light yellow in color (R.H.S. 8C) at maturity forconsumption (FIG. 4). The core of the mature fruit is yellowish-white(R.H.S. 9D or 8D), ovoid or elliptic in shape, and is approximately 10.2mm in average diameter. Each fruit contains between 27 and 37 locules(31 on overage) and between 13 and 32 seeds can be counted on atransverse slice made through the middle of the fruit (24 on average).

Fruit flavor is very sweet and mild with a tangy after taste and acharacteristically smooth texture. Fruit can be ripened soon after theyhave been harvested in late March or early April in the Te Puke regionof New Zealand using ethylene gas, or will soften during cold storageand become ripe for eating within 18 to 24 weeks at 1° C. The fruitaverage 17.4% soluble solids (measured as ° Brix) and contain 117 mg ofvitamin C and 1.10 g of titratable acidity (g citric acid equivalents)per 100 g of fresh weight at maturity for consumption.

-   Cultivation:

‘ZESY002’ plants can be grown on the same rootstocks as other standardvarieties such as ‘Hayward’ and ‘Hort16A’. Rootstocks currently beingused in New Zealand include A. deliciosa seedlings, A. chinenisseedlings, and ‘Kaimai’ (not patented).

Vegetative bud break occurs in early September in the Te Puke region ofNew Zealand, with flowering commencing in late October, with a floweringperiod of approximately 14 days (FIG. 5). In the Te Puke region of NewZealand, more than ⅔ of the dormant ‘winter’ buds burst in spring andapproximately 94% of these shoots will produce flowers. All flowersproduced appear capable of setting a fruit that will survive to harvest,if they are pollinated. The fruit attain maturity for harvest accordingto the criteria of reaching 103° hue angle of the outer pericarp inearly April in the Te Puke region of New Zealand. However, harvest ofthe fruit can be conducted earlier than this if the fruit are held attemperatures of 10° C. for up to one month, to allow the yellow fleshcolor to develop. Leaves persist on the plants until early winter (Juneto July) in the Te Puke region of New Zealand.

In the absence of budbreak enhancing chemicals, plants produce moderateto high flower numbers, with an average of 30 to 40 king flowers permeter of one-year-old cane in the Te Puke region of New Zealand. Innon-thinned vines this would result in crop loads of 90 to 120 fruit persquare meter of female canopy at standard cane spacings (FIG. 1). Dueadditionally to the large average fruit size that are produced by‘ZESY002’, ‘ZESY002’ potentially have a high natural yield potentialrelative to other cultivars of kiwifruit currently being grown. Fruitsize is large (136 g) when thinned to a crop load of approximately 46fruit per square meter of female canopy. The large natural fruit size of‘ZESY002’ means that it has the potential to deliver high natural yieldsin environments where crop loads of 30-50 fruit per square meter can bemaintained relative to other cultivars of kiwifruit currently beinggrown.

In post harvest storage, softening of harvested ‘ZESY002’ fruit can bedelayed by placing fruit into cold storage. In this case, fruit can besuccessfully stored for between 12 and 24 weeks while maintainingaverage flesh firmness greater than one kgf. Once removed from coldstore and returned to ambient temperatures, the fruit continue to softenbut can be held at 20° C. for one to two weeks for consumption.

1. A new and distinct kiwifruit variety substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated, characterized by fruit having a large size,high natural yield potential, ovoid shape, yellow flesh color, and earlyharvest maturity.